SB 1453 Summary

• Reduces the term of office for Arizona Supreme Court justices from six years to two years and changes their selection from merit-based appointment to direct election at general elections with partisan designation on the ballot.

• Reduces the term of office for Court of Appeals judges from six years to two years, changes them from merit-selected to elected positions, and allows partisan designation on ballots; governor fills vacancies by appointing someone from the same political party as the departing judge.

• Removes the judicial retention election system for appellate and trial court judges, replacing it with partisan elections where judges run against opponents rather than stand for yes/no retention votes.

• Repeals Title 12, Chapter 23 (the Commission on Judicial Performance Review) and modifies campaign finance reporting requirements to eliminate exemptions previously available to judges filing retention declarations.

• Contains a conditional enactment clause stating the act only becomes effective if Arizona voters approve a constitutional amendment at the next general election to repeal merit selection of judges and establish judicial elections instead.